{ The Bountiful Supply }: { Undergoing Radiation Therapy and Lovely Visitors }

Hello friends and family and saints in the Body of Christ,

Thank you for your continued support. I am doing fairly well having already had 3 full brain radiation treatments thus far. Today will be my fourth therapy session at 3:30pm. The treatments are very quick five minutes on the table. A large scanner which is used for 360 degree x-rays radiates the brain. It is virtually painless and a very simple procedure.

In terms of memory, I have not experienced any significant issues thus far. I have been visited this week by Elberta, my best friend from Texas. Both her and my mother accompanied me to my appointments. Afterwards, I am more clear about where the car parked and they can't remember! :)

These days I do get more tired. I have been on steroids to reduce inflammation. This is necessary for the duration of the radiation. I really cannot wait to get off of it. It can cause swelling in the legs and much water retention. Making walking difficult, bending knees, etc. I have also put on a significant amount of weight rapidly due to the steroids. You can see in the photos below I look more bloated and fatter. Even my oncologist thought that I looked funny. It made him smile and he's pretty stoic.But he encouraged me to eat a lot and be as fat as possible while on radiation. Afterwards, will be difficult to readjust my body to step down from steroids and rebuild. Pray for the post-radiation effects and also my next chemotherapy is being pushed to mid-January.

We are concerned about the delay, how the cancer in the torso will continue to grow while untreated during the radiation hiatus. We have to switch out to a new chemo treatment. And are unsure how the cancer will take it.

Here are some images from our recent visitors:

"Birdie" left her three kids in Texas with Tony and his mother to come visit me! ( I have not seen her for three years since my wedding in 2009.) Her presence really encouraged me because she had just survived through a massive ordeal with Solomon, truly a miracle birth baby. This was a very encouraging visit for me. I feel bad she missed her third child Solomon's first baby steps to be with me.Thank You so much for coming, Birdie!